Summer Time is Pool Time!

Summer is just around the corner and school is almost over for the kids and for many of us, it’s POOL time! If you are like me, (I hope you are not for your sake!) keeping your pool clean and water crystal clear can be quite the challenge, but it really does not have to be. Even if you use a pool service, there are a few things you can do to ensure everyone enjoys the pool and your pool maintenance budget does not rise faster than the mercury on an August day in Texas! Here are a few tips to make your summer pool experience a blast.

Skimming the surface of your pool every day or two is one of the easiest ways to keep your pool clean and well maintained. I for one don’t like swimming with bugs or around fallen debris from trees. In fact, skimming your pool will significantly increase the efficiency of your pool’s circulation system and as a result, will lower the amount of chlorine you’ll need to add to your pool. Now that’s not just good for the pocket book, but the environment as well!

If you clean out those strainer baskets ever few days you will also help your pool’s circulation and chlorine demands. My son hates this because of the occasional spider he gets to see in that basket and the possibility of a hidden Zombie lurking under those leaves. Remember that spraying the basket with a hose from time to time can help keep your basket functioning like new.

Keep your pool filter clean, but not too clean. Pool filters typically fall into three categories: cartridge, sand, and diatomaceous earth. While each of these pool filters requires different maintenance procedures, they all will need periodic cleaning. Clean your pool filter can actually fall into that category of too much of a good thing is actually a bad thing! If you clean your pool filter more often than recommended by your manufacture, you can actually hinder the overall filtration process. This is because, a clean filter can be less efficient than a pool filter with a slight amount of dirt or debris, which actually helps trap other particles and removes debris from the water. With that said, you don’t want to let your pool filter get too mucked up, yes I know, that is a pool maintenance technical term I derived from years of summer pool cleaning! So how do you know when enough muck is enough? A clear sign it is time to put the umbrella drink down and get off your pool float and actually do a bit of work can be obtained by watching for an increase in flow between the pressure gauge and flow meter. Clean your pool filter when the difference reaches between 10 to 15 pounds per square inch.

The key to perfect pool health is consistent care. If you want to tackle common problems like murky water or broken pumps on your own, make sure you always consult your manufacturers’ product manuals before attempting to fix or diagnose any pool maintenance or pool equipment problem.

Remember, no matter if you DIY or use a ServiceLIve.com Pool Maintenance & Repair Service Company, It is always a good idea to do a few things on your own to make sure your pool stays in great working condition for years to come.